ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
We all know people who are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live.
While conditions have improved for some households, many continue to struggle, especially as wages fail to keep pace with the rising cost of household essentials (housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, and a basic smartphone plan). Households below the ALICE Threshold — ALICE households plus those in poverty — can’t afford the essentials.
Two years ago, United Way of Marathon County adopted a bold goal to lift 10,000 community members to financial stability by 2033. We invest funds into programs that work towards that goal in areas where the ALICE rate is high.
Since then, 5,000 have been lifted and the latest 2025 ALICE Report revealed the ALICE rate in Marathon County has slightly decreased from 34% to 32% percent. The rate in the city of Wausau also decreased from 42% to 40%.
Key villages/cities/communities and their ALICE percentage
- Athens – 49% (Athens has now been identified as an area of concern)
- Wausau – 40%
- Unity Village – 40%
- Edgar – 36%
- Schofield – 35%
- Spencer – 35%
- Weston – 34% (Weston has now been identified as an area of concern)
- Mosinee – 32%
- Stratford – 32%
- Hatley – 29%
- Rothschild – 27%
- Marathon City– 25%
Below are some key takeaways
- Weston and Schofield are showing signs of increasing ALICE populations.
- Single-Female-Headed Households (with children) continues to have a high ALICE rate in our overall population at 60%.
- Black & Hispanic households are still seeing the highest rates of ALICE.
- Individuals 55+ has slightly increased over the past two years, pointing to forecasts that individuals living on fixed incomes will continue to struggle.
Our work focusing on Lifting 10,000 individuals to Financial Stability by 2033 remains as important as ever.
The first step to helping ALICE is understanding who ALICE is, reading the report, and sharing it with your networks. Local United Ways across the state of Wisconsin are committed to improving the lives of ALICE families and those in poverty by promoting resources for stability. Addressing these issues will not only help advance the quality of life for those suffering from continued financial hardship but also uplift communities.